Refund Rs 1.42-lakh fees to student,consumer court tells aviation academy
The Pune District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered the Aviation and Hospitality Academy Private Ltd
3 min read
Academy discontinued course midway citing non-availability of faculty and staff
The Pune District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (consumer court) has ordered the Aviation and Hospitality Academy (AHA) Private Ltd,that runs the Air Hostess Academy,to refund fees of Rs 1.42 lakh to a student after the course was discontinued midway. The court also directed the Academy to pay Rs 27,000 as compensation to the student.
Ketan Shrikant Kane from Bibewadi had moved the consumer court last year against the AHA. As per the complaint,Kane had obtained loan to take admission at AHAs Jungli Maharaj Road branch for its one-year diploma in aviation and hospitality management for 2009-10.
On January 22,2009,Kane had paid Rs 5,000 as enrollment fee and the remaining amount of Rs 1.42 lakh was paid by demand draft to the academy on March 16,2009. While the course began from June 6,2009 as promised,it discontinued abruptly in October. Before complete discontinuation of the course,classes were held on and off for 15 days in between. The academy did not offer any valid reason to discontinue the course, stated Kanes complaint. He added that AHAs impressive prospectus and the claim that it had 35 branches in the country made him take admission in the academy.
Unable to get any explanation for discontinuation of the course,Kane sent a legal notice to AHA on October 26,2009,but did not get any reply to the notice. Kane then approached the consumer court seeking refund of the Rs 1.42 lakh paid towards fees with 14 per cent interest rate,Rs two lakh for abrupt discontinuation of the course,Rs one lakh for loss of an academic year,Rs two lakh for mental agony and Rs 1,600 as litigation cost.
The consumer court bench consisting of the Consumer Forum president Anjali Deshmukh and its member SK Kapse observed in its order that on November 26,2009,AHA had sent a notice seeking apology from the students. The Academy had cited that the course was discontinued due to non-availability of faculty and staff. The Academy had also promised to begin the course as soon as possible,but it was never started again.
After hearing both sides,the court stated in its order: Kane had taken admission for job security by availing loan. The repayments of the loan had started within two months. But even after receiving full fee,AHA failed to complete the course which proves deficiency in service on their part. It directed the AHA to refund the fees of Rs 1.42 lakh with nine per cent interest rate and Rs 27,000 towards compensation.
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